Description: This spider crab has a pear-shaped carapace and grows up to a length of 10 cm and a width of 8 cm. The reddish-brown carapace may have some tubercles and is often covered in encrusting animals. Pincers are shorter than walking legs. Some hairs present on carapace and limbs. Points of rostrum close-set, but not touching.

Habitat: On hard and sandy substrata from lower shore to depths of 50 m, rare records exist for depths up to 350 m.

Distribution: Recorded from all coasts around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Hyas coarctatus, although H. coarctatus is smaller in size, has slightly longer points on rostrum which touch at the tip, and its pincers are longer.

Key Identification Features:

• Pear-shaped carapace up to 10 cm long.
• Red-brown colouration but often covered in encrusting animals.
• Pincers shorter than walking legs.
• Points of rostrum very close-set.

Distribution Map from NBN: Hyas araneus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Hyas araneus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Hyas araneus

WoRMS: Hyas araneus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Hyas araneus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 107322.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Majoidea; Oregoniidae; Oregoniinae; Hyas